Tips for a Successful Photoshoot with Kids
In this blog post, I will give you some tips for a successful photoshoot with kids. If you know of any other ideas that have worked for you feel to share them!
Before the Photoshoot
Make sure you choose the right photographer. It's essential to find a photographer who has experience working with children. You want someone who will be able to capture their personality and energy while making them feel comfortable in front of the camera. Book the right type of session to fit your family's needs. Mini sessions are perfect for small children who you don’t think will have the patience to cooperate for a longer session. For shy kids sometimes a longer session works better to give them time to warm up to the photographer.
Prepare the Kids
Explain the process. The first thing to do is to explain what's going to happen. Tell your kids that they're going to have their pictures taken and do their best to look at the camera. Everyone wants cute clothes in their photos, but make sure it’s not something too uncomfortable that it makes them crabby. Lesson learned at my wedding, my niece didn't try her dress shoes on prior to the wedding. When my sister went to put them on, they were uncomfortable. My niece refused to wear them. She ended up wearing bright purple flip-flops with a white ball gown. haha
Be Ready for Anything
Have patience! Kids can be unpredictable. They might want to run around instead of sitting still for photos; they might cry when they see the camera pointed at them..but don't let these things stop you from enjoying yourself and capturing some great memories! If kids feel you are stressed out and not in a good mood for the photo shoot it will reflect on them. The most important thing is to have fun. When you make it a fun experience you will get the best genuine smiles out of your kids. I typically do a variety of shots between posed and playful prompts to give kids a break when I feel they need it. I also try to create a fun environment, by playing games and making funny noises and faces. Some fun things to try when your kid isn't feeling the smiling posed shots are tickling, hanging upside down, spinning them around, and swinging them.
Have Faith in your photographer!
Parents just smile and focus on the camera the entire time. Your photographer will do their best to get the children to look at the camera and smile. It only takes a fraction of a second to take the photo, so even if I can get them to look quick I will get some good shots. There are so many pictures that are so cute of the child, but the parents were in the middle of talking. Every time I have family photos taken, I feel like it is going horribly and I still have a good amount of photos I end up loving. Try not to stress even if it feels like your child isn’t cooperating.
Don't Forget the Bribes
Offer rewards for good behavior. Some kids respond well when there's something in it for them. This could be something small like ice cream, stickers, or extra screen time. Let your photographer know when you arrive what the bribe is and they can mention it to the children when needed to try and get their attention. If you are going to bring the snack with you to the photoshoot make sure it's not something that could get messy. Fruit snacks are a good choice!
